Nebraska Football: Fact or Fiction about the Cornhuskers' Program

Nebraska is almost halfway through their 2011 season and does anyone know exactly where this team stacks up compared to the nation’s best?

After an up and down non conference schedule, Nebraska fans were sure to get the answers to many of their questions in the Wisconsin game: Were the Cornhuskers hiding anything in their non conference schedule? Would having the “Big Three” of Jared Crick, LaVonte David and Alfonso Dennard together for the first time on defense put the dominance back in the Blackshirts? Would this be the game that proves Bo Pelini can win the big game?

If these were the questions, Nebraska fans do not like the answers.

I do not think all of the questions were answered Saturday night against Wisconsin. The team Nebraska played Saturday is not the caliber of teams Nebraska will find on their remaining schedule. Wisconsin is by far the best team in the Big Ten Conference. The rest of Nebraska’s schedule will be easier than a night game at Camp Randall.

So, if Nebraska has made it to the roughest part of their schedule, how does the rest of the season and the future look for the Cornhuskers?

Here is my fact and fiction as to what I believe is true and what I believe is false about the Nebraska Cornhuskers (to continue click "Begin Slideshow").

Fact: Nebraska Made the Right Choice in Moving to the Big Ten Conference

After Saturday night’s debacle in Wisconsin, some Nebraska fans are wandering if Nebraska made the right choice in moving to the Big Ten Conference. I believe they did.

When the schedule was released last year revealing Nebraska’s inaugural Big Ten Schedule, everyone was shocked? Nebraska had to open up play in their new conference against the two toughest teams back-to-back? At that point Nebraska fans should have expected a rough start. Was the game against Wisconsin too rough of a start? I don’t think so.

Nebraska will do fine in the Big Ten Conference. What happened Saturday night against Wisconsin would have happened if the Cornhuskers were playing Oklahoma in the Big 12 Conference. I think Nebraska matches up well with the remaining teams on their schedule. While Nebraska may not win all of their remaining games, I think they will fare much better than if they had Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Baylor, Missouri, Texas and Oklahoma remaining.

Next year Nebraska will be standing where Wisconsin is now. Wisconsin loses many players to graduation and has to come to Lincoln. Nebraska is a young team and while their inexperience hurts now, it will feel oh so good next year!

Fact: Bo Pelini is the Coach of the Future

I could not believe what I was hearing after the Wisconsin game. Some fans were talking about how Bo Pelini should go back to being a defensive coordinator and Nebraska needs to bring in a new head coach. I do not think that is a good idea.

Bo is a good coach. He just has a young team this year and in the near future Bo will return the Nebraska program to the top of college football.

If Bo Pelini were to be replaced, who would be his replacement? The chances are high that if Bo were to go, his replacement would have no ties to the Nebraska program and would come in a mess with the Cornhusker traditions. We all saw how that worked out when Bill Callahan took over the Nebraska program.

Nebraska‘s program is heading in the right direction. Cornhusker fans need to be patient. While there may be some bumps in the road this year, next year looks like a smooth ride.

Fact: Offense Needs To Be Centered on Rex Burkhead

Taylor Martinez receives much of the praise for the big plays in Nebraska’s offense and much of the blame for their mistakes. In order to take some of the pressure off of Taylor Martinez, Nebraska needs to center their offense on running back Rex Burkhead.

When Nebraska calls on Burkhead to lead the team he always responds. Last season when Taylor Martinez was injured Burkhead was a one man show. He ran the offense for the running back position and at the quarterback position in the wildcat formation. When Nebraska needed a boost of offense against Washington they called upon Burkhead. He responded with 121 yards and two touchdowns.

Opponents are starting to stack the line of scrimmage and use a linebacker as a spy on Taylor Martinez. By featuring Burkhead in the offense Nebraska could put together longer drives, where out opposing defenses, and allow Martinez to make plays off of the play action pass.

Currently the Nebraska offense is all or nothing. If Nebraska does not break a big play, they have a hard time scoring. Using Burkhead would allow Nebraska to get four or five yards at a time.

Fiction: Nebraska Will Win the Legends Division

Nebraska was the preseason favorite to not only win the Legends division but to also win the Big Ten Championship game. Neither of those two predictions will come true.

Nebraska had a difficult time containing Wisconsin’s quarterback Russell Wilson. What will Nebraska do when Michigan’s Denard Robinson is on the other side of the field?

I look for Michigan to face Wisconsin in the first ever Big Ten Championship game. Michigan has an easier schedule than Nebraska and will beat the Cornhuskers in Ann Arbor. Nebraska will keep it close throughout the year finishing second to the Wolverines.

Next year Nebraska fans can make reservations in Indianapolis for the championship game.

Fiction: Taylor Martinez Is the Quarterback of the Future

Taylor Martinez is the best quarterback Nebraska has on their team…right now. Next year may be a different story. Nebraska has a verbal commitment from Tommy Armstrong. Armstrong is a dual-threat quarterback from Steele High School in Cibolo, Texas.  

While it is a long shot that a freshman quarterback would unseat the experienced Martinez, do not put it pass Bo Pelini to make the change. Last season Cornhusker fans believed the quarterback position would be a battle between the senior Zack Lee and sophomore Cody Green. Bo Pelini shocked Cornhusker fans when he named freshman Taylor Martinez as the team’s starting quarterback. Don’t be surprised if he does it again.

Martinez will not only find competition from Armstrong, but from Brion Carnes as well. Carnes looked good in the spring game but horrible in his brief appearances this year. He will only get better in the future. Look for Nebraska to bring in at least one more quarterback in the 2012 recruiting class.

This year Martinez did not have much competition for the starting job. Next season will be a different story.

Fiction: Nebraska Is a Team on the Decline

Oh how one game can ruin a season? Before last Saturday’s night’s game against Wisconsin, Cornhusker fans were talking about a Big Ten Championship and the possibilities of a BCS Bowl game. Now people are discussing whether the Cornhuskers are heading in the wrong direction. It is one game! Nebraska will be fine.

Nebraska is still one of the top teams in college football. Although they might not be a top-10 team, they are still good enough to remain in the rankings all season long. As bad as Cornhusker fans might believe it is for them, there are 100 teams in the country who would gladly switch positions with Nebraska.

Nebraska has a young team this year and that can only mean they will be better in the future. This weekend’s game against Ohio State is huge for Nebraska. The Cornhuskers are hosting many 5 and 4-star recruits this weekend and it is important that Nebraska plays well and puts on a good show for their guests.

Nebraska might not be where they want to be right now, but they are headed in the right direction.

So, what do you think? Is Nebraska’s football program heading in the right direction? Fact or Fiction?